And a fourth man, Nigerian Tom Kumasa, 34, who is on the run and failed to appear at court, will be sent to prison as soon as police catch him.

Police chiefs admitted that although three of the gang were today behind bars, they had no idea of their real identities, such is the confusion created by their intricate web of aliases, fraudulent passports and dodgy bank accounts.

The court heard how the gang had attempted to defraud £150,000 from High Street banks, and credit cards - from as far away as Canada and Singapore - had been dishonestly used to buy dozens of expensive, hi-tech electrical goods and jewellery.